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I would like to thank everyone for the support you have given me over the past two years. The people in our association that I had the privilege to work with and represent are quite simply the most admirable people I have ever met.
As the final weeks of school draws to an end, I cannot help but reflect on how important music education is and will continue to be for the future of education in Alabama. I encourage you to continue to help others understand the importance of our profession and the positive impact it makes on the lives of students. Here are a few suggestions that I leave with you to consider to help in this endeavor.
Set High Expectations!
Never before has there been a better time to make the music classroom the epitome of high expectations. Sometimes it seems society is setting the bar lower and lower each year, but we can be the exception. If you expect very little from your students (and yourself), that is exactly what you will get. Resist the notion that if no one expects anything from your program, then it is ok to deliver on that expectation.
Make no mistake, your students and their parents may not appreciate the rigor you provide them now but I can certainly say they will in the future. Shouldn’t we teach with the future in mind? Be the person that raises the bar and inspires others to do the same!
Make It Special!
Take every opportunity to create a special moment in someone’s life no matter how big or small the task.
The late Dr. Edd Jones, from the University of North Alabama, had a large impact on teaching me to have pride in all things. One day, while working in the music office together, he told me he had a doctorate in taping music. I then observed him meticulously space two pieces of handwritten music 1 mm apart while accurately connecting them with three pieces of tape creating one perfectly aligned foldable piece of music. The amount of time and effort he put into that task was a profoundly unique experience that I will never forget. Nearly 30 years later, I find myself smiling when I tape music together knowing Dr. Jones would be proud if he saw my work. I now realize that even the simplest of tasks can be made special, so long as you treat them as such.
Guess what? Your students are special too. The time and effort you consistently put into others will not go unnoticed. It will leave a lasting impact more powerful than you can ever imagine.
Take Care of Yourself!
A healthy and happy educator will attract positive attention from their community. You are extremely important to the people around you; therefore, you must take care of yourself.
Refresh your musical health by taking advantage to have great musical experiences. Attend a concert that you are not “in charge” of so you can experience the performance stress-free. Be involved with a local choir, band, or orchestra and enjoy the fulfillment of performing yourself.
Establish a new hobby this summer that you may escape to when given a chance throughout the year. This has truly helped me relieve stress over the years.
Rest! It is said that those that work using their mind rest by using their hands and those that work using their hands rest by using their mind. Find a physical activity that can give your mind a rest from time to time.
Get Involved
I hope you are off to a great start for the school year and your students are engaging in productive musical experiences. It has been so nice to see many musical programs enjoying live performances. This simply reminds me of how important the gift of music education is to the lives of our young people.
In August, the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) Governing Board met to continue planning for the 2022 conference. The board has put a great deal of time and effort into making our next conference the very best possible. There is no question that everyone is eager to get back to in-person clinics and performances. We are looking forward to the opportunity to grow professionally together in January.
This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Matthew Arau, is the Music Education Department Chair and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. In addition, Dr. Arau is the Founder of Upbeat Global, which is an organization created to inspire positivity through leadership and music around the world. I recently attended one of his sessions and immediately knew he was the person that is needed to address the music educators of Alabama. Please be sure to attend his keynote address to AMEA at the presentation on Friday morning at 10:15am. Prepare yourself to be inspired by his uplifting message.
I am extremely excited about our keynote performing group, Act of Congress. They were scheduled to perform for our 2021 Conference and have agreed to perform for 2022 since we were unable to have performances in person last January. If you have not yet heard of this native Alabama group, you are in for a special treat. The first time I heard them perform I was impressed with their musicality and creative way to arrange their unique style of music. Since that time, I have purchased several of their albums and have become quite a fan. You can visit their website at http://actofcongressmusic.com and find an extensive music collection through iTunes. Their Christmas music is exceptionally good!
The board has been eagerly planning the AMEA 75th Anniversary for quite some time. It was decided last January to delay the formal celebration until it could be celebrated in person. Pat Stegall formed a Celebration Committee and has done an exceptional job making plans for this momentous occasion. Please join us during the reception scheduled on Friday night of our 2022 conference as we commemorate and celebrate this anniversary.
I am proud of the work our Division Leaders have done over the summer that has resulted in great ideas for in-person and new events. I have seen the leaders of the Band, Vocal, Orchestra, General/Elementary, Higher Education, and Collegiate Divisions collaborate in order to solve many of the new issues we are facing in education. This work will result in additional innovated opportunities for music educators that will positively impact you and your students.
Alabama has a rich history of extremely gifted leaders that had a tremendously important influence on my career. These leaders inspired me to be a better educator by teaching me the importance of maintaining a professional attitude, even during the hard times. You probably have leaders that you admire as well. Those leaders all started by saying “yes” to a leadership position. There are many local, district, regional, and state leadership opportunities that support music education. Please consider finding a place you can serve in a leadership role to promote music education. I encourage you to get involved with your division, become a future leader, and be willing to serve.
This is an election year for AMEA. In January, we will share the bios of the nominees for the new president-elect. I hope you will take the time to read about the new candidates to decide who you think should be the future leader of our association. You will receive a ballot in the spring for the election, so please take the time to reflect on your decision and cast your vote.
As we continue to move forward, let’s remind ourselves to stay focused on spreading our joy for music education to every student in our classroom. I know it may not always seem like you are appreciated but you are. Your enthusiasm to do your very best will impact those around you, including your colleagues. As music educators, we sometimes feel very isolated due to our unique subject. I encourage you to take the time to check on other music educators in your school system and district. You just might be the encouraging voice they need to hear today.
In closing, I wish you all the best. I look forward to seeing you in person in January at the 2022 AMEA Professional Development Conference. It is my pleasure to say, “We’re Back.”
Best regards,
David Raney
When I was a young boy, I loved racing. I was either racing on my bicycle, go-cart, three-wheeler or racing on foot. The most common way for us to begin the race, “back in the day,” was with the traditional, “On your mark, get set, GO!” Of course the ever popular long pause just before “Go,” would really raise the excitement and anticipation for the race. This summer has been very reminiscent to the long pause before the race begins. I could not wait to see the faces of my students and their smiles. The sounds of their instruments without bell covers or their voices unobstructed were sounds I looked forward to.
At the time I am writing this article, I have currently finished three days of band camp and I can say, without a doubt, the anticipation did not disappoint. This week has reminded me how powerfully rewarding normal interaction with my students can be in this profession. My desire is to never take for granted these moments and always recognize how important they are for the development of our students.
I hope you find yourself recharged, from a well deserved break, and as excited to get back to work as I am. I have heard some people refer to this past year as a “hard reset” for schools and in many ways I must agree. A hard reset will clear your memory and close any unwanted applications running in the background that keep slowing down your computer. It is time for a new beginning.
SUMMER PRODUCTIVITY
The AMEA Governing Board met in person for the first time in over a year this past June. Seeing everyone in person after so long was incredibly enjoyable. For me it was the first step for us to begin the process of starting that new beginning.
During the summer, I organized a committee of leaders from the band, orchestra and vocal divisions to discuss updating the document, found on the state department’s website, for guidance for continuing music education. Our goal was to advocate for every child in Alabama to have unencumbered access to a full music education experience this year. I believe the new wording that was produced is consistent with this objective. Our hope is that your school system will see how valuable a well-rounded education, including music education, is for our students now more than ever. I would like to thank Joel Henson, Randall Fields, Daniel Stevens and Rob Lyda for the work they provided in this undertaking.
We all know how important music education is for our students’ social and emotional well-being under normal circumstances. I am convinced that since the pandemic has forced such a socially deprived atmosphere for our students that music education can be the driving force to bring everyone back to a thriving emotional state.
During this past June, the AMEA leadership was able to attend the NAfME National Assembly virtually. I was proud to report to the other states the great successes Alabama had throughout the year with in- person All-State events and virtual performance assessments, as well as our successful virtual
conference. I am extremely proud of the educators in our state and the work done to keep music alive in Alabama.
I would like to congratulate AMEA’s past president, Susan Smith, for her appointment earlier this year as the Chair of the NAfME Collegiate Advisory Council. Susan has brought a fresh approach to this position that resulted in an outstanding Collegiate Summit this summer as part of the National Assembly.
MOVING FORWARD
As we move forward, we are thrilled to host our 2022 Professional Development Conference face to face next January in Birmingham. The Governing Board is hard at work planning a great conference, and we believe it will be exciting, rejuvenating, and beneficial for you to attend.
The special impact music has in the lives of all of us will be renewed with each event our students and community experience this upcoming year. I am optimistic this year will provide you with a chance, like no other time in our lives, to share the wonders of music with a group of people that may have forgotten how powerful the experience of music education can be.
What an incredible privilege we have to participate in this important adventure following the “hard reset.”
Now let’s get ready. On your mark, get set, GO!
David Raney
Congratulations, Alabama!
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston S. Churchill.
As I reflect on this past year with the decisions that were made by our music educators and leaders, I think of these words from Winston Churchill. Educators all across the state worked incredibly hard to continue enriching their students with the best quality music education possible.
Over the course of this year, I have witnessed educators share creative ideas and solve complex problems to a level I couldn’t have imaged two years ago. Congratulations on a job well done. Now that we are crossing this year’s finish line, I hope you take pride in knowing you had the courage to complete the journey.
I am so proud of our division leaders that had the fortitude to make the hard -decisions necessary for you and your students. Although their burden was great, they found a way to provide our students and educators with virtual Professional Development, Music Performance Assessments, Solo & Ensembles, in-person Honor Bands/Choirs and All-States Festivals in a safe environment.
I know of no other state in the country that has done so much towards providing so many opportunities for our students and educators than we have in Alabama. We can all take pride in knowing we worked together, never gave up and didn’t settle by taking the easy path.
Each year during the summer, a staff of AMEA leaders travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for music education in what is known as “Hill Day” meetings. Last year’s events were cancelled and this year NAfME decided to organize virtual meetings during the month of March. I designated Dr. Rob Lyda as our State’s Captain to coordinate these meetings and I’m happy to report they were a great success.
During these “Hill Day” meetings, we were able to meet with the staff of Senators Tommy Tuberville and Richard Shelby along with Representatives Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, Mike Rogers, and Gary Palmer. We shared details of the issues music educators had to overcome this past year along with making suggestions towards our funding needs. Our main objective was to establish a relationship with these offices for their support. I would like to thank Dr. Lyda for his leadership and well organized meetings that led us to what I feel was a mission accomplished.
Soon after our meetings, the office of Rep. Rogers contacted NAfME in an effort to discover further information concerning social and emotional learning as well as the funding of music education. This response was recognized by NAfME as a great success
As this year comes to a close, we should celebrate our successes and learn from our struggles. Now is the time to look towards the future and begin the process of rebuilding with a new sense of appreciation and drive.
You can start now by planning your professional development for next year. During the All-State Band Festival this past April, I had the opportunity to attend my first in-person clinic in over a year! This experience left me with a renewed sense of appreciation for professional development.
The AMEA Leadership and staff are looking forward to organizing our next in-person Professional Development Conference in January of 2022. We plan to implement new ideas discovered over the past year into our next conference and make it the best experience possible.
I hope your year finished stronger than it st-arted and you finally have an opportunity to rest and recharge. I am looking forward to next year for what I anticipate will be the most fulfilling year of our careers. I can not wait to see you all again soon.
David Raney
I thoroughly enjoyed working with the outstanding AMEA Executive Board in order to provide an online professional development experience. From the moment we decided to have our conference virtually, everyone jumped on board and started working together to make the event the best possible. I believe our mission was accomplished.
Executive Director and Assistant, Garry Taylor and Rusty Logan did an outstanding job preparing the schedule and providing the software that guided us through the week. Their expertise and organizational skills transferred perfectly to the online medium and gave us easy access to all the sessions.
Our Media Specialist, Dr. Carl B. Hancock, once again worked his magic with social media distribution and constructed an amazing staff that hosted all of our sessions. We owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the University of Alabama for the role they played in providing the facilities and staffing that became the backbone of our conference.
Dr. Rob Lyda, our AMEA President-Elect, served as our virtual expert. He has participated in more online events than all of us combined, which was instrumental in making us aware of the “dos” and “don’ts” in the world of zoom and online presentations.
Past-President, Greg Gumina, came through for the FAME program and provided our future music educators a rich experience with outstanding clinicians that was certain to solidify their desire to enter this great profession.
The AMEA Registrar, Pat Stegall, collected and processed the registrations while assisting with the NAfME memberships.
The Divisions did a great job finding sessions and inspirational performances that would facilitate an online experience. These opportunities demonstrated what can be achieved even in challenging times.
We cannot say enough good things about our sponsors and vendors that participated in our conference. This year has taken a toll on all of us and we must thank those businesses that support music education in our state. Please take a moment and identify those that provided support for our conference and, if possible, patronize their businesses in the same manner they invested in our profession.
Our first keynote speaker provided the most viewed live event of the week. Dr. Judy Bowers provided a message that contained a passionate vision of how we can think out of the box to be an inspiration to others. Her presentation sparked a lot of conversation in the chat room and created a wonderful start for our conference.
I’m especially proud of our awards presentation on Friday night, which will continue to be available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/yPFO7p6rM5Q
We plan to continue posting videos to recognize and honor our membership, so please consider subscribing to our channel. Go to YouTube and search for “my AMEA” and click “subscribe”.
After our awards presentation, we enjoyed our second keynote speaker, Bob Morrison, from Quadrant Research. He provided us with up-to-date mitigation practices and clearly articulated a powerful message for why music education has been recognized as such an important part of a person’s educational growth.
Most importantly, the greatest contributor to this event was you. The conference would have been nothing if not for the participants. I want to thank everyone that took part in and believed in the value of the 2021 Virtual Conference. The attendance exceeded our expectations and the level of energy everyone brought to the chat rooms and social hours was extremely comforting to us all. Although we all would have preferred to see each other in person, you continue to make the very best out of the situation.
Moving forward, we plan to continue recognizing AMEA’s 75th Anniversary throughout the entire year by exploring the rich history of AMEA through online media and we will celebrate the grand finale at our 2022 Conference, IN PERSON!!!!! Don’t miss it!
As we look forward to the remainder of this year and beyond, I would like to encourage you to continue your fight for music education in your school. You must continue to remind yourself how important your influence is in the lives of your students despite any setbacks you may have experienced.
One person that truly understood setbacks and struggles was Martin Luther King, Jr., which was quoted saying, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” I encourage you to continue looking at music education as a source of infinite hope and possibilities.
All the best,
– David Raney
“If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Over the past several months I have witnessed music educators from across our state overcome unparalleled obstacles to keep programs moving forward. Although the students’ experience may not have been as grandiose as usual, I’m confident to say the experiences provided to the students during these times are just as meaningful.
A highlight of my year came this fall as I once again interacted with my students in person after such long anticipation. Soon after our first meeting, I found myself overwhelmed with joy as I heard the first note performed in person. Seeing the students’ face light up with excitement after making music together again was a sight I will never forget.
Now that we are in the midst of the rigor of in-person instruction, which now includes face masks, bell covers and the constant sanitization of everything, we find there is still much to learn and share. Additionally, we must continue to stay motivated while growing professionally just as we have in the past. For me, attending music conferences is a proven source of inspiration and the 2021 AMEA conference will be no exception.
AMEA Virtual Conference 2021
As we celebrate AMEA’s 75th anniversary, we look back and see that Alabama has enjoyed some of the most successful professional development conferences in the country with exceptional performances, clinicians and fellowship with professionals across our state. Despite the current circumstances, our goal is to continue this tradition with a unique and meaningful experience this January.
Our executive team, which includes Garry Taylor, Rusty Logan and Carl Hancock, has assembled the technical foundation for the conference that will give attendees an exceptional online experience using Map Dynamics and Zoom. Map Dynamics will provide an interface with simple access to all sessions and performances. Since most of us are already Zoom experts, we will use this method to broadcast the sessions and interact with the clinicians.
All divisions have accepted outstanding sessions for this three-day event and pre-conference bonus sessions will be available in November. We will enjoy outstanding performances from programs across our state that will surely inspire us all.
An important part of our yearly conference is the time we spend with our colleagues as we share ideas and enjoy each other’s company. We will provide a time for networking lounges in each division that will provide roundtable discussions. In addition, we will have a social hour to give you an opportunity to catch up with colleagues.
Vendors are an important part of our conference and need our support as they have supported us over the years. We will provide everyone an opportunity to interact through virtual exhibits. These exhibit times will give opportunity to ask questions and see their latest offerings.
A virtual conference will give us the ability to offer multiple keynote speakers. Dr. Judy Bowers, the Emy- Lou Biedenharn Endowed Chair of Music Education at the University of Louisiana, Monroe, will present her keynote session on Thursday night. In 2014, Dr. Bowers was named the Lowell Mason National
Music Education Fellow and inducted into the society by the National Association for Music Education in Washington, DC. Her distinguished choral music career and unique experiences will bring insightful information to us as we look for new ways to engage students.
Friday night, Bob Morrison will present his keynote session that will explore how music education moves beyond 2020 and offer insights on how to plan for the future. Mr. Morrison is the founder of Music for All, was the founding CEO of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, and his advocacy work has earned him both an EMMY and a Peabody Award. He is the founder and CEO of Quadrant Research, the nation’s leading arts education research organization, and his accomplishments and accolades go far beyond the space this article provides. His insightful message will give meaningful information you will not want to miss.
I am extremely proud of the time our Governing Board has put into this year’s conference. The event is full of quality sessions, performances, and nationally recognized presenters. With a reduced price and a convenient schedule, this conference provides a quality experience we should all enjoy and I hope you will take full advantage of this unique opportunity.
Southern Division Meeting
On September 13, I attended the Southern Division Meeting virtually along with Rob Lyda, Greg Gumina, Garry Taylor, and Rusty Logan. During this meeting, we heard from the new NAfME President, Mackie Spradley, the Interim Executive Director, Chris Woodside, and Chief Financial Officer, Chaudlier Moore. Each is new to their position and took time to answer questions and address asks from the states.
NAfME is our national voice and the new leadership is making changes to bring you the most value for your membership. They have implemented large financial changes that will keep the association strong while providing an abundance of advocacy and research campaigns. If you have not looked at their website lately please take a moment and peruse through the enormous amount of resource material they are providing at http://nafme.org
Moving Forward
Finally, I would like to challenge you to keep moving forward with your music programs. If you are feeling overwhelmed, start with taking one idea, one source of information, or one new idea from the conference and use it to keep moving in a positive direction. You will find a crawl will turn into a walk, then a walk into a run, and finally, we will all fly again.
I’m looking forward to coming together this January and moving forward to a brighter future. Let’s fly together.
– David Raney
I am humbled and honored to write my first article as the AMEA President. Please forgive me if I make claim to the most unique start of a presidency since 1946. Despite the unique start of my term, I am most certainly excited to work with the amazing team of AMEA Staff and Governing Board. I am well aware the foundation of this association was established by the great leadership of those that came before me. I would like to thank Greg Gumina and Susan Smith for providing me with the mentorship and guidance as I step into this position.
As I write this article, I am still unsure how the fall semester will look for our students. By the time you read this article, my hope is that we all have a clear understanding of how to approach the challenges that lie ahead within our own unique situation. Although the plans have changed and your curriculum may have been altered, one thing that has not changed is the commitment our educators have towards their student’s education.
A truth that is evident in our band program is that adversity can be a great motivator. Adversity is often the tool that bring students together to work as one and overcome enormous obstacles. A beloved former director of mine was once overheard saying, “Students must have a problem to overcome and if they don’t, I will make one up for them”.
One thing is clear, we currently do not have to seek out challenges to overcome; however, we must constantly remind ourselves that challenges are what make us stronger and better at what we do. Challenges are uncomfortable but also give us an opportunity to appreciate what we had and will have in the future. For some, this year may create your most fond memories with your students or your most proud moments as an educator. I challenge you to open your mind and allow those moments to happen. Expect it, accept it, and cherish it.
Spring/Summer Activities
Watching everyone jump into action during the onset of this pandemic was nothing short of an amazing site to witness. Greg quickly gathered the leadership and started collaborating ideas and brainstorming for solutions. Over the coming months, complete websites were developed, Town Halls were organized, resources were gathered, the Advocacy Leadership Force was established, and constant collaboration with NAfME and other state leaders became daily events. Identifying everything that transpired over the summer is more than can be mentioned in this article.
Although the opportunity to advocate for music education at the annual “Hill Day” event in Washington, DC was cancelled, NAfME hosted an outstanding virtual National Assembly that exceeded our preconceived expectations with an online event.
2021 AMEA Conference
Of all the plans AMEA has made over the summer, none have been as difficult as addressing the upcoming conference. The AMEA staff has always provided outstanding conference experiences with each year progressively improving technology, performances, and professional development sessions. Evidence of these improvements can be found in the consistent growth of attendance each year.
The foundation of our conference is based on providing experiences that will expand and promote your professional growth. This year our conference may look different but the goal remains the same. We are committed to provide a conference experience that will be rich with learning experiences.
Division Leadership
Our Division Leaders have done an amazing job going above and beyond the call of duty this summer. We have met as a board more this summer than we typically meet for the entire year. They have eagerly worked to provide back to school guidance documents, emergency “Essential Standards” for programs that must teach virtually, and they remain on standby for any requests received at a moment’s notice. Please help me thank your Division Leaders for the work they have done, and will continue to do, as we navigate through these times.
Goals and Agenda
As your president, I will focus my efforts to achieve a set of goals I feel will continue the forward progress of AMEA. These goals will continue the path my predecessors have established in the advancement of music education in our state.
We must promote unity between our divisions by communicating often and share ideas of successful practices. Despite being called “Divisions,” we must be united to provide a stronger association that is more efficient in providing opportunities for our students.
We will enrich our advocacy efforts to provide more resources for members by adding tools to promote music education in your own school system. We must all take an active part and speak the same language to the system leaders across our state in order to be effective in our efforts.
Support for our teachers should be established by building relationships with legislators and school leaders across our state. We know how essential music education is and we must invite everyone to be a part of the benefits we bring to the education system. The future of music education is dependent upon our emerging leaders and the recruitment of new teachers. We will promote and share the successes and achievements of our amazing educators in order to inspire and recruit those that will one day take our place.
Most of these goals rely on our ability to improve communication with our membership. We will advance our technology to provide innovative ways to stay connected throughout the year as well as provide unique opportunities for professional development.
I feel we have entered a defining moment for music education and you are a part of the history that is taking place. Write your story well and always remember to expect great things, accept the challenges, and cherish the rewards.
David Raney
